Saint Gregory the Hieromartyr bishop of Greater Armenia
Holiday date: 30/09/
Saint Gregory was the son of Anak, who was a relative of the king of Greater Armenia, Kusaro (290 AD). Anak, therefore, in collaboration with the Persian king Artaseira, killed Kusaro. But the satraps of Armenia avenged his murder, killing Anak and his entire family. Only two of his children were saved, one of whom was Grigorios.
In Caesarea, the son of the murderer Anak, Grigorios, and the son of the victim Tiridates happened to meet. At that time, Gregory was diligently studying the Holy Scriptures, (in Caesarea, Cappadocia, from the Archbishop Leontius there), which, among other things, say: “solid food is perfect for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.” (Hebrews, v. 14.1). That is, solid and higher spiritual food is for perfect Christians, who through exercise have their spiritual senses trained to easily distinguish between good and evil. Gregory, therefore, trained in discernment, not only did not turn Tiridates away, but approached him with love, disapproved of his father’s act and helped him in some of his illnesses.
When Tiridates later became king of Armenia, he horribly tortured Gregory (who was then bishop of Armenia). He even ordered that he be thrown into a pit with snakes and other reptiles. Not only was Grigorios unharmed, but he survived for 15 years feeding on the bread that a widow secretly took to him. God, however, allowed Tiridates to become schizophrenic. But through the prayers of Gregory he was healed, repented and was baptized as a Christian with his whole nation.